Networking Skills: The Benefits Of Focus In Your Networking | Finding your ideal clients ... |
 POSTED BY JACKY SHERMAN ON 05/02/2020 @ 8:00AM Once again this week, I got drawn into a debate about whether you should appeal to a wide range of clients or focus on a tight target market. It's a fundamental networking skill to know what you want ... It's a fundamental networking skill to know what you want! copyright: rawpixel / 123rf
It seems to be the single most challenging thing for the small business owner to put into practice when networking for referrals, or any form of marketing or lead generation come to that.
It usually comes down to one of three reasons:
First is fear. Fear that others will pass you over for work you could do. If you had enough of the clients you really wanted would you care? Second is evangelism. That everyone will benefit from the amazing products or services you have to offer. Is what you’re offering something everyone wants to buy? Third is novelty. You like variety and dread getting bored with all clients being the same. Are any two clients really identical?
So let’s look at the benefits of focusing on one particular type of client and how that can address those reasons and much more.
Make it easy to spot an opportunity for you
If you’re networking and asking others to introduce you to potential clients, you need to make it easy for them to do so. The clearer the picture of one of your ideal customers and why they need your services, the easier it is for people to spot them in their busy day. By the way, it’s easier for you too! Know who you need in your network
You can identify the people who are able to refer you. You can identify and develop relationships with people who know lots of those sorts of people. If you’re both fishing in the same pond, but for different reasons, you can both refer to each other. Know where to network
You can focus on attending events where either your potential clients go or the people who know your clients go. That will save you huge amounts of time and frustration. Present the right image
You can gear your marketing messages in the language, style and images that speaks to your potential clients. That makes them far more likely to buy from you and gives your referrers confidence that you are the right person to introduce to their contacts. Become known as a specialist
People seek out a specialist especially when facing a real challenge. This means you get variety in your work and feel that you’re really adding value that others can’t. Your referrers feel proud to know and refer to the guru in your field ( that’s you by the way). Last but not least you can charge premium prices for your services. Your business will grow
There is an adage which works for most businesses. The top 10% of your clients earn you 80% of your income and the bottom 10% of your clients waste 80% of your time. If you focus on winning more clients like your top 10% your whole business will move up a gear. You’ll be working with more people you want to work with , doing the things for them you really enjoy delivering and dealing with less crises and hassle.
If you'd like to learn more networking skills, call me on 07970 638857, leave a comment below, or click here to ping over an email and let's see how I can help. Until next time ...
JACKY SHERMAN
About Jacky Sherman ... |  | | I help people build and maintain productive working relationships both with their work colleagues and with a wider network to win more business. I do this by combining my skills in coaching, mediation and training with my extensive experience in senior management.
What I love most about my work is when my clients get those a-ha moments because I know they have seen for themselves the way that they want to move forward. Then they will achieve their ambitions.
Helping people who are having challenges with their working relationships gives me enormous pleasure. It was my privilege when working in health care to see how people working together can make the impossible seem easy and accomplish miracles as a result.
So helping people build or restore strong relationship with their colleagues makes even the hardest work easier, alleviates distress for the individual and reduces problems for the whole organisation.
In all this work trust is an essential ingredient to winning business so most of my work comes through referrals. Referrals come through strong business relationships so it was a natural extension for me to train others in how to get consistent and predictable referrals from their network.
What a fantastic way to earn a living!
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